Bathinda: Differences have cropped up within the Punjab chapter of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) over a planned protest in Chandigarh from Sept 1, driven by disagreements over asking the state assembly to annul all inter-state water-sharing agreements.BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Kisan Sangharsh Committee Punjab have distanced themselves from the call, arguing that demanding an end to water-sharing pacts undermines national farm unity and risks angering neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan farmers.On Aug 14, a joint statement was issued in the names of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan, All India Kisan Sabha (Punjab) president Baldev Singh Nihalgarh and Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Punjab) president Sukhdev Singh Araianwala. Both Ugrahan and Araianwala publicly disowned the release on Tuesday, claiming it misrepresented decisions reached during the meeting.“The SKM banner should not be used for this protest,” Ugrahan told the media, adding that participating factions should march under their own names since member unions remain divided.Ugrahan’s union warned against internal divisions at a time when agricultural bodies face broader threats such as free trade agreements affecting the farm and dairy sectors.However, Nihalgarh defended the demonstration, saying the decision was backed by a broad majority within the SKM’s Punjab unit.“We are not against any state, but we must protect Punjab’s water rights under riparian law,” Nihalgarh said, adding that hundreds of activists will proceed to Chandigarh on Sept 1.The SKM had spearheaded the year-long blockade at Delhi’s borders in 2020–21, which forced the central govt to repeal three controversial farm laws.
